Device for removing casing-tubes in rock and earth drilling



uw Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1n M. C. BULLOGK. DEVICE FOR REMOVING GASINGTBES IN ROOK AND EARTH DRILLING.

Patentd Aug. 19, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. O. BULLOCK.

DEVICE EUR REMOVING GASING TUBES IN ROCK AND EARTH DRILLING.

No. 434,860, Patented Aug. 19, 1890..

l i I l UNITED STATES PATENT Crrrcn.

MILAN C. BULLOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.`

i DEVICE FOR REMOVING CASING-TUBES IN ROCK AND EARTH DRlLLlNG.

SPECFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,860, dated August 19,1890.

Application filed August 20, 1889. Serlal No. 321,423. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MILAN C. BULLocK, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand. State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Removing Casing-Tubes Used in Rock and EarthDrilling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being' had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which formapart of this specification.

This invention relates to novel devices adapted for use in connectionwithV rockdrilling apparatus employed for boring wells, prospecting, andsimilar purposes, and more particularly to an improved device by meansof which the removal of a casing-tube from a bored hole may be moreeasilT accomplished. It often occurs in drilling a hole and afterinserting therein a casing-tube that the said casing-tube must be liftedoutof the hole or removed-as, for instance, when it is desired tosubstitute a larger casing-tube. After the hole has reached aconsiderable depth, the length and consequent weight of the casing-tubeoften become too great for its tensile strength, especially with theadded resistance opposed to its withdrawal by the friction and otherobstructions within the hole. In suoli cases it becomes impossible toremove said casing by drawing it out by power applied to its upper end.To overcome this objection, I have devised the construction set forth inthis application, and by means of which the lower end of the casing maybe supported and power applied thereto, so as to wholly or partiallysustain the casing-tube and thereby enable it to be removed from thehole without danger of breakage.

The invention consists in the details of construction and combinationsof parts, hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate in central verticalsection the lower end of a casing-tube and the lower portion of myimproved devices for sustaining and lifting said casing-tube, said partsbeing in operative position therein. Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontalsectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 4 et and 5 5 of Fig.l. Figs. 6 and 7 are horizontal sectional views taken, respectively, onthe lines 6 6 and 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail view, in sideelevation and partly iu vertical section, on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4, ofthe devices for engaging the lower end of the casing-tube to be removed.Fig. 9 is a detail view, in side elevation, of one of the gripping-dogs.Fig. lO is a view in central vertical section, illustrating the partsshown in Fig. 2 in different positions. Fig. ll is a horizontalsectional view taken on the line ll ll of Fig. l0.

In said drawings, Aindicates a casing-tube, which is provided at itslower end with a casing-shoe a of familiar construction.

B indicates, as a whole, a grapple adapted to be passed downwardlywithin the casingtube and to engage the lower end thereof by means ofdevices forming part of the same, hereinafter described. rlhe saidgrapple B embraces a relatively heavy plunger B', preferably formed ofsteel and provided betweenv its ends with a contracted portion orspindle4 h and at opposite ends with enlargements or heads B2 B3,provided with conical surfaces h b2 adjacent to the spindle, saidsurfaces tapering outwardly from said spindle. The' enlargement or headB5 is rounded upon its lower or advance end, and is provided with ashoulder h3 adjacent to the conical part b2.

The plunger B is provided with a central longitudinal axial recess orpassage o5, which extends from the upper end of the same to a pointabout opposite the upper end of the enlargement B3. b5 is a longitudinalslot formed in the contracted portion b of said plunger. A cross bar hlis passed through and is adapted to slide in said slot, said cross-baro7 being connected with the lower end of a rod B4, located within therecess b5 and extending outwardly above or beyond the same. Attached tothe ends of said cross-bar bl and surrounding the plunger B is asupporting ring or collar hs, which is provided interiorly with a seriesof vertical slots b9 o, which in their lower parts extend entirelythrough said collar hs, thereby forming fingers bw blo, Fig. 8. The saidcollar ha is adapted to slide upon the plunger B and is formed with acentral aperture tapered outwardly at either end, whereby it may fitover or receive the inner ends of the conical enlargements beforementioned.

B5 B5 indicate a series of expansible gripping-dogs pivoted within thesaid slots Z2 Z29 by means of pivot-pins Z211 Z211 and extending aboveand below said pivots, the said pins being inserted at their ends withinthe iingers Z210 Z210 of the said ring or collar Z251. The rear faces ofthe gripping-dogs B5 B5 are so located within the collar that they willbear against the plunger B and will be expanded or contracted by reasonof the contact of the said rear faces with the said conical enlargementat either end of the plunger as said dogs are brought opposite the samein their sliding movement upon the plunger. Those portions of the dogsabove their pivotal points rest Within the slots in the collar 128, butin their lower portions they extend solliewhat below the ends of theiingers Z210 Z210 and are provided on their outer faces with shouldersZ212 Z212, which are adapted when expanded to pass under the lower endof the casing to be removed, as will be more fully described. The lengthof the gripping-dogs is such that when the collar Z2S is at the lowerlimit of its movement the lower end of said dogs will rest upon theshoulder Z211 of the' plunger B, so that any weight coming upon theshoulders Z212 Z212 is brought finally upon the plunger.

For convenience in construction it is preferable to form the collar Z2Sin sections comprising an upper cylindric shell Z214, providedinteriorly with segmental pieces Z210 Z210, Fig. 4, which are held inpositionby means of two screws Z213 Z213, which secure two of saidsegmental pieces to the upper cylindric shell,`

and these, in connection with the pivot-pins Z211 Z211, which rest atone end in said segmental pieces, which are secured to the shell Z211and at their opposite ends in the detached segmental pieces, hold saidlatter pieces in position. The cross-bar Z27, which is attached to thelower end of the actuating-rod, as above described, is secured at itsextremities to the said sections, which are secured to the ring Z2111 bythe screws Z213 Z213.

The upper head B2 of the plungerB is cylyndric and is provided withscrew-threads, by means of which the lower end of a liftingtube C issecured thereto. Z215 Z215 are spanner-holes formed in said head B2,whereby a spanner may be engaged therewith for disconnecting the samefrom the lifting-tube C. The said liftingtube C extends upwardly throughthe hole to a point above the surface of the ground, and is thereconnected with a suitable machine by means of which it may be lifted outof the hole. Near the lower end of said lifting-tube is located ascrew-threaded tubular coupling C, which serves to connect two sectionsof said lifting-tube, and is provided interiorly with a spline orfeather c', Fig. 7. To the upper end of the rod B4 is secured anactuating-rod C2, said parts being connected by suitable means, which inthe present instance consist of keys adapted tol enter key-seats formedon the rods Bu1 and C2 in the manner illustrated. The actuatingrod C2extends upwardly within the liftingtube through and above the couplingC', and is of suitable size to fit closely within said coupling. Saidrod is solid in its lower portion, and is there provided with alongitudinal slot or groove c2, into which projects the spline orfeather c of the coupling C. Said spline c prevents said rod fromturning within the coupling, but allows a relative endwise or verticalmovement of said parts. The upper portion of said actuating-rod ishollow or tubular and is provided with a recess or aperture c3. Aspring-actuated detent c1 is arranged upon the coupling C', and isadapted to engage said aperture c3 when the rod C2 and parts connectedtherewith are lifted. The said detent c4 is pivoted between its endswithin a recess c5, formed in the upper end of the coupling C', and isprovided on its inner face above its pivotal point with alug c6, whichis adapted to .enter said aperture c3. c7 is a spring arranged to bearagainst the lower end of said detent to force its upper end inwardly, orinto position to engage with the rod C2. In Fig. l0 Ihave'shown theseveral parts in the positions they will assume when said detent is inengagement with the aperture of the rod C2. In said Fig. l0' is alsoshown an unlocking key or plunger C3, which is adapted to fit within thetubular upper end of the lifting-rod, so that when the lug c6 of thedetent c1 projects through the perforation c3, and thus locks said rodin its elevated position and the gripping-dogs in their contractedposition by lowering the said unlocking key or plunger C3 within theupper end of said rod the lug will be pressed outwardly so that itsrounded end onlystands in the said aperture, so that it may bedisengaged from the said perforation when the actuating-rod isVertically moved. C1 is a harpoon-sheath, within which the upper end ofthe said actuatingrod is secured by a screw-threaded joint, at which isformed an annular shoulder 010. Said harpoon-sheath C1 extends upwardlywithin the lifting-tube, and is provided near its upper end with aninternal annular shoulder or flange cS-for engagement with a liftingimple- -ment or harpoon, hereinafter to be described.

The upper end portion of the actuating-rod C2 is enlarged and providedwith spanner-holes cJ e9, whereby a spanner may be engaged therewith tounscrew and disconnect said parts.

The endwise or upward movement of the gripping-dogs is accomplished bymeans of a harpoon or lifting implement D, having expansible jaws CZ CZ,capable of being automatically locked together or in their retractedposition when they are compressed.

In two pending applications for Letters Patent filedv by me JuneA29,1889, Serial Nos. 27 8,57 l and 278,572, I have shown and deloc IIO

scribed harpoons embodying this construction, and which may be used inconnection with the device herein shown.

The several parts of my invention being constructed and arranged asdescribed, the operation and manner of using the same are as follows:The parts being in the position just described-that is to say, thegripping-dogs are retracted and held in their elevated position by theengagement of the detent c4 with the actuating-rod-the grapple islowered into a casing-tube to be removed by means of the lifting-tube,which is connected with suitable machinery at the surface of the ground,by which said lifting-tube may be lowered and raised. The grapple islowered until the shoulders 1112 B12 of the dogs B5 Breach a point belowthe lower end of the casing-shoe a. The unlocking-key G3 is then loweredwithin the lifting-tube and harpoon-sheath by means of a rope until itenters the tubular portion of the actuating-rod and forces the lug eG ofthe detent outwardly from engagement with the perforation c3, afterwhich said key is lifted out of the tube. The disengagement of thedetent from the actuating-rod allows the said rod and gripping-dogsconnected therewith to fall by gravity, and as said dogs fall theirlower ends will be expanded by the lower enlargement b2 of the plunger3. This movement will bring the shoulders U2 Z212 under the casing'- vshoe a, while the lower ends of said dogs rest upon the annular shoulderb3 of the plunger. In this position'power is applied to the lifting-tubeto raise the same, and also the casing A, as may be necessary, until thecasing can be finally lifted out of the hole by force applied to theupper end thereof. Thereupon the casing is secured in place by any meansdesired and the lifting-tube lowered a sufricient distance to permit thegri pping-dogs to be raised relative to the plunger to retract them,which is accomplished as follows: Said implement is dropped through theliftingtube (by meansof a rope connected with an eye CZ on its upperend) until it enters the liarpoon-sheath and by the expansion of itsjaws engages with the flange cs. As said implement is drawn upwardly theharpoonsheath will be lifted, carrying with it the actuating-rod C2, rodB2, and the dogs B5 B5, and thereby retracting the lower ends of saiddogs by reason of the upper enlargement h of the plunger. It will bemanifest that as the actuating-rod is lifted within the coupling c thelug c6 on the det-ent c4 pivoted therein will enter the perforation c3in said actuating-rod Iand thus hold the dogs in their elevatedposition. The harpoon is then further lowered within the harpoon sheathuntil its jaws are compressed by contact of the annular shoulder 010,formed therein, with the upper end of the tubular portion of theactuating-rod C3, and the jaws being automatically locked together theharpoon can be drawn upwardly through the mouth of the harpoon-sheathand out of the lifting-tube.

The lifting-tube and grapple are then withdrawn, after which the casingis removed from the hole.

I claim as my inventionl. The herein-described apparatus for removingcasing-tubes, comprising a liftingtube, expansible gripping-dogsprovided on their outer faces with shoulders adapted to engage the lowerend of the casing to be removed, an actuating-core attached to the lowerend of the lifting-tube and engaging the said dogs, and an actuating-rodconnected with said gripping-dogs, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described apparatus for removing casing-tubes, comprisinga liftingtube, an actuating core or plunger attached to the lower end ofsaid lifting-tube and having a shoulder near its lower end, eXpansiblegripping-dogs engaging said core and arranged for contact with theshoulder thereof, said gripping-dogs being provided with shouldersadapted to engage the lower end of the casing-tube to be removed, and anactuatingrod connected with said gripping-dogs, substantially asdescribed.

3. The herein-described apparatus for removing casing-tubes, comprisinga liftingtube, an actuating core or plunger attached to the lower end ofthe said lifting-tube and having an intermediate contracted portion withoutwardly-tapering ends, a collar surrounding said core or plunger, aseries of gri pping-dogs pivoted to said collar and bearing against thesaid core or plunger, and an actuating-rod connected with said collar,substantially as described.

4. The herein-described apparatus for removing casing-tubes, comprisinga liftingtube, an actuating core or plunger attached to the lower 'endof said lifting-tube and having a central aperture and a longitudinalslot, a sliding actuating-rod arranged within said aperture, a cross-barlocated near the lower end of said rod and passing through the saidslot, and a series of expansible gripping-dogs surrounding said core orplunger and connected with said cross-bar, substantially as described.

5. The herein-described apparatus for removing casing-tubes, -comprisinga liftingtube, an actuating core or plunger attached to the lower end ofsaid lifting-tube and having an intermediate contracted portion andoutwardly-tapering ends, and provided with a longitudinal slot, a seriesof gripping-dogs adapted to engage the lower end of the casing to beremoved, surrounding and bearing against said core or plunger, alongitudinallysliding collar affording pivotal support for said dogs, anactuating-rod arranged within a central aperture in said core or plungerand connected with said sliding collar through the said longitudinalslot in said plunger, and

`a detent arranged upon said lifting-tube and adapted to engage said rodwhen at the upward limit of its movement, whereby the dogs IOO IIO

will be held in their retracted position, substantially as described.

6. The herein-described apparatus for removing casing-tubes, comprisinga liftingtube, a core or plunger attached to the lower end of saidlifting-tube, a plurality of longitudinally-movable expansiblegripping-dogs engaging said plunger, an actuating-rod conend of saidlifting-tube, a plurality of longitudinally-movable expansiblegripping-dogs engaging said plunger, an actuating-rod connected withsaid gripping-dogs, said actuating-rod being provided with a tubularupper portion having a perforation therein, a harpoon-sheath connectedwith the said actuating-rod, by means of which said rod and dogs can belifted, and a spring-actuated detent pivoted to the lifting-tube and.adapted to engage and pass through the said perforation when theactuating-rod is at the upward limit of its movement, said tubular partof the actuating-rod being adapted to receive a suitable tool forpressing said detent outwardly to unlock said rod, substantially asdescribed.

8. The herein-described apparatus for removing casing-tubes, comprisinga liftingtube, a spline or feather located therein, a core or plungerattached to the lower end of said lifting-tube, a plurality oflongitudinallytube and adapted to engage and pass through the saidperforation when the actuating-rod is at the upward limit of itsmovement, said tubular part of the actuating-rod being adapted toreceive a suitable tool for pressing said detent outwardly to unlocksaid rod, substantially as described.

9. The herein-described apparatus for removing casing-tubes, comprisinga liftingtube, a coupling located therein and formed with aguide-aperture, a core or plunger attached to the lower end of saidlifting-tube, a plurality of longitudinally-movable expansiblegripping-dogs engaging said plunger, an actuating-rod connected withsaid grippingdogs and'passing upwardly through the guideaperture in saidcoupling, said actuating-rod being provided with a tubular upper portionhaving a perforation therein, and a springactuated detent pivoted tosaid coupling and adapted to engage and pass through the saidperforation when the actuating-rod is at the upward limit of itsmovement, said tubular part of the actuating-rod, being adapted toreceive a suitable tool for pressing said detent outwardly to unlocksaid rod, substan- C. CLARENCE PooLE, HARRY COBB KENNEDY.

